Cliff's Creative Ventures
  • Home Page
  • C-19 Blog
  • Cliff's Art Blog
  • Art Shows
  • Art Gallery
    • My Art Statment
  • Documentary
  • Contact Cliff
  • Pastor Cliff

As it Happened to Samson, It Could Happen to HIm!

7/25/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Detail of "Samson" art piece.
So let's go back to me standing in my studio space thinking about what to create next! It's just after the preliminary hearing and it's like, for the first time I've heard the other side of the story! 

"Allegedly" (remember no one has been as yet charged for this crime) so "allegedly" this young man ogled my daughter in the grocery store located beside the school property on the street that she would take walking home. Then, stalked her on her way home from school and one day, chose to force/entice her to the shed where he left her tied up to die of hypothermia. 

This to me was the worst possible example of mistreatment and abuse of women! Something, as I've mentioned before is most abhorrent to me.  Something, despite our programs, rhetoric, justice systems, psychology, education, technology, spirituality etc. we in the west have not been able to solve.  This is not a problem only in primitive cultures or foreign countries, It is here in our own so called civilized and enlightened world! The abuse and unspeakable crimes against women have not stopped nor have we come up with solutions that deal with it adequately!  

As I stood in my studio space grieving and thinking about this tragic state of affairs, my mind went to Samson. The Biblical charecter I had thought of as being at least "interesting" in my youth now came in as an example of what just happened to our daughter! The story's were different but freakingly similar. 

Samson was raised as a "nazerite" which meant he'd had serious spiritual upbringing and training. He knew the 10 commandments, had attended church, memorized scripture and had been trained to be the first "Judge of Israel!. Nevertheless he ignored all this and the spiritual consequences a life of disobedience might bring, not only to himself but a nation depending on his spiritual leadership.

Secondly, he abused his parents by running roughshod over their concerns not only about his abusive fraternization with the women but that he refused to relate to the girls of his own nation and had eyes only for the ladies of his enemies, the Philistines. 

Then, in Judges where his story is told we are informed that he chose a Philistine wife because she seemed "right in his eyes." This is a problem because it's all about her looks! He's chosen her as his wife without consideration of her personality, who she is. And when the marriage fails, he later goes after her referring to her as "his heifer!" How disparaging can you get! The fact of the matter is that even if she's Philistine, she's still a woman, a special creation made in the image of God, with dignity and majesty, with the potential of a personal relationship with God like anyone else, males included.

All sounds similar to the man who abducted our daughter! 

But the list goes on, he abuses her further by going off in a huff, abandoning her, then thinking he's going to buy back favor with the gift of a goat!  Following this he engages in prostitutes ending up with "Delilah." By this time he's so full of pride and confident insolence, independence and insensitivity, he begin's playing abusive games with her which to on one's surprise backfires on him. A woman finally gets the better of him and he actually becomes a victim of his own abuse. He get's his just reward finally as the secret of his strength is revealed. He's captured, his captors gouging out his eyes in the process. Now that's justice!

I guess that's why I had to make Samson with a bulls head. I had to place the two women under his feet. I had to have his eyes empty holes in his head. I had to make him standing on the grindstones which he walked around harnessed to them like a bull, going in circles for the rest of his life grinding grain.

As sad as this all is, there was hope! He was now blind so wasn't distracted with his "wondering eye." He was going round and round grinding grain and so had time to think. It seems that he he came to some resolution with his God, a time of repentance and renewal. A time for his hair to grow again. Ready for the one moment he could finally do what God had intended him to do in the first place, to disable the Philistine enemies of Israel and give them a season of peace. This "God ordained moment" presented itself when the blind Samson was led into a banqueting hall where all the "lords" of the Philistines were gathered to celebrate their great god dagon. Their intention to mock Samson became their demise!

We all know this part of the story, finally he did not think of himself, but gave up his life as he called upon his God for the strength he'd once had to dislodge the two main pillars of the building. In this one act he killed more of the enemy than he'd killed during his lifetime. 

As I mentioned earlier, Samson is listed in the Hebrews 11 chapter of heroes of the faith. Along with Abraham, Moses and the like. Samson therefore is in heaven with all the saints. Here is my closing thought, will this also happen to our daughter Candace's murderer? He to, like Samson has had time to think about his life. I (we) have prayed for him, asking God to intervene in his life. Is it possible for me as a father to one day, in heaven, watch him, side by side with my daughter in eternity? My answer, if it happened to Samson, it could very well happen to him. 
Comments

The Big Bully!

7/15/2017

Comments

 
Picture
In 2010 we had the preliminary hearing of our eldest daughter Candace's disappearance and death by murder.  We finally had a suspect which we had not had for 23 years. We actually had given up, thinking that in this lifetime we would never really know the who and the why of what had happened on that fateful night. It was at this preliminary hearing when the crown presented it's case that we finally, for the first time heard the "other side" of the story, giving us an idea of what had actually happened. 

There are  many lessons in the life of Samson, but here are the reasons that tugged at my heart, that cause me to make the decisions not only to make Samson but why I made him the way I did, with that "bull head" and the two women at his feet in particular. Let me enumerate these. 

One was because of my own manhood and men in general. What Candace experienced was shocking for all of us but for me, a man,  it had another layer. Besides all the other things like my being her father, the male need to be the protector of my family, the loss of my child itself, etc., it was also tough in that I realized that one of my own kind, a male like me, a "man" had done this to not only "us" but to "me" another man! How could he do this without realizing there would be a father, possibly male siblings and male members of the extended family who he, also being a man, was by this horrendous act betraying. This in my mind was a betrayal of all males! One of my own kind had done this to me! I could not believe my feelings and my sudden anger and disgusted with "men!" I had to do a lot of work forgiving men and forgiving myself for as one of them having such potential for evil.

This reminded me of Samson who was also a "man" who betrayed not only all men by his abuse and use of women but a whole nation of Israel who he was supposed to be as the first of a long line of "Judges", and a Nazerite, an example of moral leadership for his nation Israel.


The second reason I chose Samson had to do with one of my innocent "commitments" as a youth. Back on the farm I attended a one room schoolhouse of around 35 kids or so students from grades 1-8  When I was in grade 7 and eight I noticed how there were some guys who's teasing of the girls often went beyond "civility." How they actually hurt the girls, shaming them, emotionally hurting them, really bullying them. As far as I was concerned they often went way too far. As a peace loving Mennonite boy I was sensitive to this and considered it intolerable behavior. So after some thought I decided I would stand up for the girls! I began to step in and defend them or protect them from the bully's. Wow, did things ever change quickly...the dynamics of all my relationships changed almost immediately.  

First, To my surprise I was now an enemy of the bullies! They now had a new target to name call, tease and bully and it was me! I had not seen that coming nor the energy and violence involved! 

Secondly, the girls of course now just loved me and began to run to me at any semblance of attack from these guys. This caused a kind of crowd appreciation affect on the girls part, for me. As their new hero, this included group hugs, smooches on the cheek, embraces and general fauning over me. This innocent Mennonite boy had no idea how to handle this female affection and attention. It felt wrong and embarrassing. They were way more confident in me than I was. I doubted how I could carry this off. I had no knowledge of how to deal with this development. Also it did not help when the bullies saw this avalanche of affection descending on me, now their arch enemy! This really got them going!

It all came to a head one recess when one of the bigger boys in the group began mouthing off at me, attracting the attention of students. Then he did the unexpected and challenged me to a fight! I had never fought anyone up until then. The only fights I'd seen were during NHL hockey games. There was not much fighting going on with the Waltons either!

Now you see this was a male situation, no male in our culture of manhood can decline such a challenge when made in public. Our masculinity demands we respond. Even for a peace loving Mennonite who was way over his head into something so confusing and disconcerting, could not see any other option except to except the challenge.

For me at that time this had "prove your manhood" written all over it and I  succumbed the the lie and faced the enemy putting up my trembling dukes. We began circling each other. In my mind, I knew I could not win. He was bigger and stronger than me and I knew this was not his first time in the ring. My goal was to just survive as long as possible and lose in some kind of honorable way! 

​We circled and danced, students yelling encouragement... He was talking, calling me down, "coward," "wimp" and "girlie boy" were his main subjects. I was silent, praying for some kind of miracle like not getting killed. We came together a few times swinging wildly, mostly missing but after a few of these he hit me with a lucky punch, directly on my throat. I was done, down and out, throat muscles constricting painfully as I gasped for air. I thought I was going to die! 

Regardless, despite the disaster I'd just experienced at school that day I never lost sight of my resolve never to be a bully.  

​I also learned that fighting was not my thing!
"By the time a child reaches out to an adult,
the vast majority of kids have been dealing with
the bullying and trying to ignore it for a long time."
Rosalind Wiseman


Comments

Lessons From a Birth Story!

7/12/2017

Comments

 
Picture
What a birth story Samson had. I remember how I loved to hear my mother talk about my birth. How they had to travel 14 miles from the farm to the local small town hospital with a team of horses pulling a wagon, and in October when it was already cold.

Birth stories are a big deal and Samson's was so unique on so many levels that anyone in the know knew that this boy was "supposed" to be special.  I love his birth story because it is so informative about how heaven is involved in every one of our births!  

First thing we learn is that his mother was barren, had been for years. There was no human hope that she would ever have a chil
d.
Now this condition was a huge source of pain and shame for any woman in Israel.  But here is the thing, many of these faithful spiritual women of faith who experienced barrenness were rewarded with "miracle babys", each turned out to be extra special children in the story of Israel. There was Sarah, who was supposed to be the mother of  many people like the sands of the sea, but of course she was barren plus way past her child bearing years. Then she miraculously gave birth to a son, Isaac. There was Rebecca, also barren who gave birth to twins. Rachel barren for many years and like the rest, crying out to God also gave birth to a son, Joseph. The list goes on. 

So this is lesson number one, If this child is to be born, there is nothing that can stop heaven's plan, it was just going to happen. 

One day a special messenger appeared to Samson's parents,  who it turned out was the very Christ who would one day become the Messiah. They were flabbergasted of course but this messenger had a few conditions they needed to be aware of,  which were rather special. They were told that the child would be a boy, and that his mother was to avoid alcohol and any unclean food. also, once he was born he was to be a "Nazerite to God." This means he was to be "separated" for the work of the Lord. This meant that for the rest of his life he was to never cut his hair and avoid all alcohol! 

This is lesson number two, every child is planned. God did not look down at earth leaning over his heavenly balcony and say, "Oh wow what a surprise, I see there's a new kid at the Derksen residence, wonder what he will be all about?"

That's not how it works. Your and my parents may or may not have seen an angel, or Jesus or raised you as a Nazerite but this tells me that like Samson, you and me were planned. We were not a mistake by any means. The great Creator knew all about you, loved you and planned your birth long before it all actually happened. It was all timed perfectly.

But there was one more thing. This child, Samson, with God's help was going to be the beginning of Israel's deliverance out of the hand of the Philistines!

Lesson number three: Every child is born with a purpose! There is a reason you are here and heaven will guide, direct and help you achieve that purpose. Now, what we do with this part is up to us! Samson made some bad choices making it hard on himself, his parents, Israel and his God, but in the end did it.

That is why I love my sculpture, because it is sort of a monument reminding me of all these things. First of all there is this God who is just head over heels in love with us. It's crazy, I don't understand it but it's true. Then, if i have struggles and doubts, which I sometimes do have, I look at this scultprue and remember my God is very close to me and since he knew and planned my birth,  plus the course of my life, I can know he's right here right now totally aware of my whole situation. Fantastic.​
“We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God.
​He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts” 

― A. W. Tozer, "The Pursuit of God" 
Comments

There is Always Hope!

7/11/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
So I'm packing up my sculptures following our art show and I approach this weird Samson sculpture of mine and stop for a moment. I can't help but remember how as a boy I loved any story about him. He was always presented as some wild haired kind of guy, with super human strength. Carrying off the gates of a city, attacking the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, setting fields of grain on fire, having fun making riddles for people to solve...I thought of him as quite the fun guy, finally someone from the Bible that was actually interesting. 

Then this "bad boy" also seemed to have something with the girls! Preachers, youth leaders and Sunday school teachers seemed very guarded about him and the ladies. You just knew there was more to the story than was actually being told. This guy's life seemed exciting and romantic. He did not sound like a good Biblical person at all! How did he even get into the Biblical record? And why would such a questionable character get so much ink in the very "word of God"? This alone seemed so strange and certainly piqued my curiosity as a boy.  

Now, as an adult standing here reminiscing, I remember that this questionable bad boy's name is actually on the most elite list of faith heroes in scripture! That's right, he's listed in Hebrews 11 hero's chapter right alongside of righteous women and men like Noah, Moses, Abraham, Samuel and the like! 

You know what that means, it means that despite his bad boy reputation of rebellion, womanizing and wrong choices, he's already in eternity, I mean he's gone through the pearly gates and is enjoying his eternal reward! I know, what a shock, but it's true for otherwise he would not be on that hero's list!

I'm sure that's the reason he actually got all that copy in scripture. It's that his life is a lesson that there is always hope. That God is patient with us, loves even the Samson bad boy/girl types and keeps working with us no matter how much we fail or struggle. Is it not great to be assured that there is always "hope!"
"How wonderful that we have met with a paradox.
Now we have some hope of making progress."
Niels Bohr

Comments

    Cliff's Creations...

    Hi, my name is Cliff, welcome to my website where I share my life as an art teacher, ceramic artist, photographer, father, businessman, leader and disciple. Basically I'm just trying to keep up with an exciting creative life. Thank you for coming along for the ride. You know, that your reading my blogs will make me a better artist so thank you in advance.
    Later, Cliff

    Archives

    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    September 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All
    Art Blog
    Ceramics
    Ceramic Sculpture
    Cliff
    Cliff Derksen
    Clifton Studios
    Sculpture
    Sculptures
    Wolf

    RSS Feed